In the Kitchen with Chef Heidi Trull

Heidi Trull was born in Sumter, and her husband, Joe, grew up working in his family’s bakery in Winston-Salem, N.C.

After stops at several restaurants, he became the pastry chef at Emeril Lagasse’s French Quarter restaurant, Nola. She also worked at a number of restaurants before joining him at Nola. The Trulls decided they wanted to return to the Carolinas to raise their son, Tom, and eventually opened Grits & Groceries in Belton.

The restaurant serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday, and Heidi Trull describes the food as eclectic soul food with a twist.”

She answered a few questions:

Q: What or who inspired you to become a chef?A: My mother, because she didn’t cook.

Q: What is the most embarrassing thing you have ever done in a restaurant kitchen?A: One time we sent a “to go” order out to a customer about 30 minutes away. It was three burgers. When they got to their destination, they discovered we had sent the buns only, no meat!

Q: Is there a food you simply refuse to eat?A: Chicken fingers.

Q: What would your dream meal be?A: Three courses of foie gras. I had this meal, by the way, on the final day of my latest trip to France. It was scrumptious.

Q: How important is presentation?A: 100 percent.

Q: What’s the best tip you can give a home cook?A: Eat out more often (!) and be adventurous with your ingredients.

Q: What is something you recently learned even after all of your cooking experience?A: Stuck on this one…..I know I did learn something just last week, but it escapes me. I said, “Hey! I learned something new.”

Q: If you were not a chef, what would you be doing?A: A contractor or riding horses.